Town Square

BART unions to vote Friday on proposed new contract

Original post made
on Oct 30, 2013

Members of BART's two biggest labor unions will vote Friday on a tentative agreement for a new four-year contract that the transit agency's management and union negotiators reached on Monday night, union leaders said Friday.

Posted by Cletus
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Oct 30, 2013 at 9:13 am

It would actually be good if the BART workers rejected the contract. That might lead to BART riders not getting hit with still higher fares to pay outrageous compensation to BART slugs. Better they go back on strike which might actually motivate the BART Board to fire them, and the state Legislature and Moonbeam Brown to pass legislation to ban strikes by public transportation workers.

Posted by Joe
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Oct 30, 2013 at 11:37 am

The issue will never be resolved fairly to all parties until the structure of the relationship changes. At present the BART unions are able to hold all other parties hostage via the strike threat. There are two ways out of this.

One, create a free market for BART labor. Of course this is specifically prohibited by the union contracts. This would be the LAST item given away by the unions - this is their lock on the situation, and more important than wages, benefits, or work rules.

Two, create legislation that identifies BART labor as a service necessary for the public welfare, as is the case with police and firefighters, and prohibits a strike.

If you support (2), I encourage you to contact your state representatives. Here in Pleasanton those people are Senator Mark DeSauliner (or Ellen Corbett for those on the far wast side), and Assembly member Joan Buchanan (or Bill Quirk for those in the far south and west).

Steve Glazer is running for Joan Buchanan's seat; she'll be termed out in 2014. He is actively supporting legislation to prevent future BART strikes.

You have an opportunity to vote for or against Mr. Glazer - whatever your position, be sure to vote!